Air cleaner replaceable filter cartridges; and, methods

ABSTRACT

An air cleaner assembly, a main filter element, a safety element, combinations and methods for servicing an air cleaner assembly are provided according to the present invention. The air cleaner assembly includes an air cleaner housing and a main filter element. The air cleaner housing includes a safety liner that supports the main filter element, and can be configured to help reduce the tendency of the main filter element to rotate during use of the air cleaner assembly. A safety element having two open ends, for use with such an assembly is described.

CROSS REFERENCE RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation application of Ser. No. 13/617,307,filed Sep. 14, 2012. U.S. Ser. No. 13/617,307 issued as U.S. Pat. No.8,784,523 and is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 12/311,594 filed Apr.3, 2009, which has issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,273,143, and which was a USfiling of PCT application PCT/US2007/021402, filed Oct. 8, 2007; the PCTapplication claiming priority to U.S. Ser. No. 60/849,906, filed Oct. 6,2006 and U.S. Ser. No. 60/963,068, filed Aug. 1, 2007. The completedisclosures of U.S. Ser. Nos. 13/617,307; 12/311,594; PCT/US2007/021402;U.S. Ser. No. 60/849,906; and, U.S. Ser. No. 60/963,068 are incorporatedherein by reference. A claim of priority is made to each of U.S. Ser.Nos. 13/617,307; 12/311,594; PCT/US2007/021402; U.S. Ser. No.60/849,906; and, U.S. Ser. No 60/963,068 is made to the extentappropriate.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure concerns air cleaners with removable andreplaceable (i.e., serviceable) filter cartridges. Methods of servicingare also provided.

BACKGROUND

Air filtering is used in a variety of arrangements. A typicalapplication is as an air cleaner for intake air to internal combustionengines. After a period of use, filter media within the cleaner requiresservicing, either through cleaning or complete replacement. Typically,for an air cleaner used within internal combustion engines such as on avehicle, filter media is contained in a removable or replaceable (forexample, serviceable) component, element or cartridge. Examples areshown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,211,543; 4,135,899; 3,672,130; 5,445,241;5,700,304; 6,051,042; 6,039,778; 5,547,480; 5,755,842; and 5,800,581;and PCT Publication WO 89/01818 and WO 06/026241; the completedisclosures of all these references being incorporated herein byreference.

Improvements in filter arrangements relating to assembly and use, aredesirable.

SUMMARY

An air cleaner assembly, a main filter element, and a method forservicing an air cleaner assembly are provided according to the presentinvention. The air cleaner assembly includes an air cleaner housing anda main filter element. The air cleaner housing includes a safety linerhaving a closed end cap that supports the main filter element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of a main cleaner assembly accordingto the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a cutaway, exploded, perspective view of components of theassembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 2a is a cutaway, side, sectional view showing an alternativearrangement for attaching the safety liner to the air cleaner housing.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing attachment of the safety liner tothe housing of the assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing attachment of the safety liner tothe housing of the assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a cutaway, perspective view of components of the assembly ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cutaway, perspective view of components of the assembly ofFIG. 1 showing attachment of a safety media.

FIG. 7 is a cutaway, perspective view of components of the assembly ofFIG. 1 showing attachment of a safety media.

FIG. 8 is a partial, sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a cutaway, perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 7 showingattachment of the main filter element.

FIG. 10 is a cutaway, perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 7 showingattachment of the main filter element.

FIG. 11 is a cutaway, perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a partial, sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 11 withoutthe access cover.

FIG. 13 is a side, perspective view of an alternative air cleanerassembly according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a cutaway, exploded, perspective view of components of theassembly of FIG. 13.

FIG. 15 is a cutaway, perspective view of a portion of the assembly ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a partial, sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a cutaway, perspective view showing attachment of the safetyfilter media.

FIG. 18 is a cutaway, perspective view showing attachment of the safetyfilter media.

FIG. 19 is a partial, sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 18.

FIG. 20 is a cutaway, perspective view showing attachment of the mainfilter element.

FIG. 21 is a cutaway, perspective view showing attachment of the mainfilter element.

FIG. 22 is a partial, sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 13 withoutthe access cover.

FIG. 23 is a end view showing the slot on the closed end of the mainfilter element of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a partial, exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 11, an air cleaner assembly is shown atreference number 10. The air cleaner assembly 10 includes an air cleanerhousing 12, a main filter element 14, and a safety filter element 16.The air cleaner assembly 10 can be applied in the filtering or cleaningof a variety of gases. The air cleaner assembly 10 is suited forcleaning air for use in an internal combustion engine, such as theengine of a vehicle such as a truck, bus, tractor, or constructionequipment; or for a generator.

The air cleaner housing 12 includes an air inlet 18 and an air outlet20. In FIG. 11, the air cleaner assembly 10 has been cutaway to show theinternal components and, as a result, the air inlet 18 is not shown inFIG. 11. Nevertheless, it should be understood that the air inlet 18 ispresent on the operable air cleaner assembly 10. In general, dirty airor air in need of cleaning enters the air cleaner assembly 10 throughthe air inlet 18, and clean air exits the air cleaner assembly 10through the air outlet 20.

The air cleaner housing 12 includes optional mounting legs or supports22 thereon to facilitate mounting. Alternatively, the air cleanerassembly 10 can be mounted with a separate mounting band or bracket. Theair cleaner assembly 10 can be provided in a variety of orientations. Anexemplary orientation has the outlet 20 extending vertically. However,many of the principles and techniques described can be applied to aircleaner assemblies mounted in other orientations.

The particular air cleaner air cleaner housing 12 has a housing sidewall 24 that can generally be considered as cylindrical in overallshape. The air inlet 18 can be referred to as a tangential inlet 26 thatgoes through the housing side wall 24. The term “tangential” in thiscontext is meant to indicate that a center line of the air inlet 18 isnot directed toward a center access of the air cleaner assembly 10, butrather is directed more tangentially. This causes the air enteringthrough the tangential inlet 26 to begin movement in a swirling pattern.The swirling pattern is facilitated by the generally cylindricallyshaped housing side wall 24. Alternatively, the air inlet can beprovided so that it is radial. That is, the air entering through the airinlet can enter in a radial direction toward a center of the air cleanerassembly.

The air cleaner air cleaner housing 12 includes a main housing 28 and aservice cover 30. For the particular air cleaner air cleaner housing 12,parts of the main housing 28 and the service cover 30 form the housingside wall 24. The service cover 30 is constructed so that it isremovable from the main housing 28. Latches 32 are available for holdingthe service cover 30 onto the main housing 28. The particular latches 32shown are a type of over center latch 34. Other types of latches can beused. The service cover 30 includes a closed end 36. In general, thecharacterization of a closed end means that mass air flow does not occurthrough the closed end 36. That is, the closed end 36 does not operateas an air inlet or outlet during operation of the air cleaner assembly10.

The air outlet 20 can be characterized as a circular, axial, outlet 38.By “axial” in this context, it is meant that a center line or axis ofthe outlet 20 extends parallel to a center line or axis of the aircleaner housing 12. In the particular instance shown, the center line ofthe circular, axial, outlet 38 is coaxial with the center line of theair cleaner housing 12. Of course, alternative configurations areavailable. For example, the air outlet can be eccentrically positionedrelative to the center line of the air cleaner housing 12.

The main housing 28 has a first end 29 and a second end 31. The airoutlet 20 extends through the first end 29, and the air inlet 18 extendsbetween the first end 29 and the second end 31. The service cover 30attaches to the main housing 28 at the second end 31. The first end 29and the second end 31 can both be characterized as open. The first end29 can be characterized as open because of the presence of the airoutlet 20 extending therethrough. The second end 31 can be characterizedas open because the service cover 30 is removable from the first end 31.When the service cover 30 is attached to the second end 31, the aircleaner second end 35 can be characterized as closed. The air cleanerfirst end 33 can be characterized as open for the same reason that themain housing first end 29 is characterized as open.

Now referring to FIGS. 2-5, assembly of the safety liner 40 as part ofthe air cleaner housing 12 is shown. The safety liner 40 includes anopen support structure 42, a safety liner closed end cap 44, and aplurality of attachment tabs 46 at a downstream end 48. The open supportstructure 42 is provided to support the safety filter element 16, andallow air to flow therethrough to the open interior 50 of the safetyliner 40. During operation of the air cleaner assembly 10, air thatflows into the open interior 50 can generally be considered clean airand flows out through the air outlet 20.

The attachment tabs 46 extend from the safety liner 40 so that they arecapable of engaging openings 52 provided in the flange 53 of the airoutlet 20. The attachment tabs 46 can be provided so that they extend atabout a 90° angle relative to the cylindrically extending direction ofthe safety liner 40. The attachment tabs 46 can engage or fit within theopenings 52 in the flange 53. The flange 53 extends sufficiently faraway from the outlet collar 55 to receive the attachment tabs 46. As aresult of a twisting movement of the safety liner 40, the attachmenttabs can extend beneath the flange 53, and can snap into place withinthe snap fit opening 58. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the attachment tabs46 include a snap fit member 60 that fits within the snap fit opening58. Once the snap fit member 60 engages the snap fit opening 58, thesafety liner 40 can generally be considered to be locked in place andcan be considered a part of the air cleaner housing 12.

An alternative arrangement for attaching the safety liner 40′ to the aircleaner housing 12′ is shown in FIG. 2a . The safety liner 40′ includesa flange 53′ extending radially away from the axis of the air cleaneralong a circumference of the safety liner 40′. The flange 53′ includesopenings (not shown but similar to openings 52 in the flange 53) forreceipt of the attachment tabs 46′ extending radially from the aircleaner housing 12′. The attachment tabs 46′ can have a structuresimilar to the attachment tabs 46 except that they extend radially fromthe radial seal member 66′. In addition, the attachment tabs can includesnap fit members, and the snap fit members can engage snap fit openingsin the flange 53′.

Now referring to FIGS. 2, 5, and 8, the safety liner closed end cap 44can be characterized as having a spherical shape 45. By a sphericalshape, it is meant that the outside surface 47 is generally curved andprovides an apex 49 at about the center of the safety liner closed endcap 44. The safety liner closed end cap 44 can be provided with shapesother than a spherical shape.

Now referring to FIGS. 6-8, the safety filter element 16 extends overthe safety liner 40. In FIG. 6, the safety filter element 16 is shownbeing applied over or removed from the safety liner 40. The safetyfilter element 16 includes a safety downstream seal member 62 and asafety end cap seal member 64. The safety downstream seal member 62 isprovided for sealing between the downstream end 48 of the safety linerand a radial seal member 66 that is part of the air cleaner housing 12.The downstream end 48 of the safety liner can include a sealing surface51 that can be considered part of the main housing 28. The safetydownstream seal member 62 fits between the sealing surface 51 and theradial seal member 66 to provide a seal.

The safety filter element 16 includes a media structure 68. The mediastructure 68 is shown as a tri-layer structure including a first layer70, a second layer 72, and a third layer 74. The first layer 70 and thethird layer 74 can be provided as media, and the second layer 72 can beprovided as a support structure to support the safety filter element 16so that it maintains its shape. Alternatively, the first layer 70 andthe third layer 74 can be support structure, and the second layer 72 canbe filtration media. Other alternatives are possible. For example, themedia structure can be provided as a by-layer structure including onelayer or two layers of filtration media. The media structure 68 extendswithin the downstream seal member 62 so that the media structure 68extends between the downstream end 48 of the safety liner 40 and theradial seal member 66. As a result, the media structure 68 assists inthe seal between the downstream end 48 and the radial seal member 66.

The media structure 68 extends into the end cap seal member 64. Thesafety end cap seal member 64 provides a sealing engagement with thesafety liner closed end cap 44. The end cap seal member 64 provides anannular seal around the end cap periphery 61. The safety end cap sealmember 64 includes a gripping surface 63 that allows one to grasp thesafety end cap seal member 64 and pull the safety filter element 16 offof the safety liner 40.

Now referring to FIGS. 9-12, placement of the main filter element 14within the air cleaner housing 12 is shown. The characterization of a“main filter element” refers to the element that provides a majority ofthe air filtering function. The safety filter element is generallyintended to protect the air inlet for the combustion engine duringreplacement of the main filter element 14. Accordingly, when the mainfilter element 14 is removed from the air cleaner housing 12, the safetyfilter element 16 remains in place to provide protection to the internalworkings of the, for example, combustion engine.

The main filter element 14 includes a main filter element radial sealmember 80, a main filter closed end cap 82, and filtration media 84. Anexemplary type of filtration media 84 that can be used includes pleatedmedia 86. The main filter element 14 can include a main filter elementsupport 88 and a cover 90 to support and protect the filtration media84. The cover 90 can be provided as a mesh or screen.

In FIG. 9, the service cover 30 has been removed from the air cleanerhousing 12 and the main filter element 14 is being introduced into orremoved from the housing interior 92. As shown in FIG. 10, the mainfilter radial seal member 80 forms a radial seal with the radial sealmember 66 of the air cleaner housing 12. The radial seal member 80 canbe characterized as an inward facing radial seal member because thesealing surface is provided toward the inner portion of the main filterelement 14. In addition, it should be understood that the filtrationmedia 84 can be potted within the first open end cap 81 that cancontains the radial seal member 80, and the second closed end cap 83.

The closed end cap 82 includes an annular rim area 94, a recess 95, anda central bump 96. The annular rim area 94 generally covers thefiltration media 84 that extends annularly or cylindrically within thehousing interior 92. The filtration media 84 can be embedded within themain filter closed end cap 82 at the annular rim area 94. The centralbump 96 can be provided having a sufficiently spherical shape or othershape so that when the main filter element 14 is fully inserted withinthe housing interior 92, the central bump 96 contacts or is supported bythe safety liner closed end cap 44. In a preferred arrangement, thecentral bump 96 does not contact the safety closed end cap 44 at theapex 49, but does contact the safety closed end cap 44 or is supportedby the safety closed end cap 44 along an annular area 97 between theapex 49 and the end cap periphery 61. In general, the closer the annulararea 97 is to the end cap periphery 61, the larger the potential contactarea. Increased contact area can assist with the stability of the mainfilter element 14 within the housing 12. In order to provide thiscontact, the closed end cap 82 includes a recess 95 between the annularrim area 94 and the central bump 96. The recess 95 can extend annularlybetween the annular rim area 94 and the central bump 96.

The service cover 30 can be attached to the main housing 28 and latchedin place. The service cover 30 can include a service cover annular rimarea 102, a service cover central bump 104, and a service cover recess106. In general, the service cover annular rim area 102, the servicecover central bump 104, and the service cover recess 106 can be providedso that they generally correspond with the closed end cap annular rimarea 94, the closed end cap central bump 96, and the closed end caprecess 95. The service cover can help hold the main filter element 14 inplace within the housing 12. The service cover annular rim area 102 canhelp push the main filter element 14 in place.

During operation, air enters the air cleaner assembly 10 through the airinlet 18. Air circulates between the housing side wall 24 and the mainfilter element 14, and passes through the main filter element 14 andthen through the safety filter element 16, into the open interior 50,and out of the air cleaner assembly via the air outlet 20.

Now referring to FIGS. 13-22, an alternative embodiment of an aircleaner assembly is shown at reference number 150. The air cleanerassembly 150 can include a housing 152, a main filter element 154, and asafety liner 180. The air cleaner assembly 150 provides for thefiltering or cleaning of a variety of gases such as air for internalcombustion engines.

The housing 152 includes an air inlet 158 and an air outlet 160. The airinlet 158 can be characterized as a tangential air inlet 162. The airoutlet 160 can be characterized as an axial air outlet 163. The housing152 additionally can include an optional drop tube 164 and can includeoptional mounting legs 166. The drop tube 164 can include an ejectorvalve 168. The housing 152 includes a main housing 170 and a servicecover 174 that attaches to the main housing 170. The drop tube 164 andthe ejector valve 168 can be provided as part of the service cover 174or if desired, can be provided as part of the main housing 170.

The air cleaner assembly 150, as well as the housing 152, can becharacterized as having a first end 165 and a second end 167. Ingeneral, the air outlet 160 can be characterized as extending through ahousing end 169 at the first end 165. In addition, the air inlet 158 canbe characterized as being provided between the first end 165 and thesecond 167, but can also be characterized as adjacent to the first end165 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13. The service cover 174, in theembodiment shown, can be characterized as attaching at the housingsecond end 167.

The housing 152 includes a main housing 170. The main housing 170 can becharacterized as having a relatively cylindrical housing side wall 172.The air cleaner housing 152 includes a service cover 174 that attachesto the main housing 170. The service cover 174 can attach to the mainhousing 170 by latches 176.

Now referring to FIGS. 14-16, attachment of the safety liner 180 to thecollar 182 is shown. The safety liner 180 includes bayonets 184, and thecollar 182 includes bayonet receivers 186. The bayonets 184 slide withinthe bayonet receivers 186 to fit. The bayonet receivers include firstside walls 188 and second side walls 190. The first side walls 188 andthe second side walls 190 hold the bayonets 184 in place. In addition,the bayonet receivers 186 can be molded in place. By way of example, thesafety liner can include about 4 to about 8 bayonets and the collar caninclude about 4 to about 8 bayonet receivers to receive the bayonets.

The safety liner 180 additionally includes a support structure 192 forsupporting the safety filter element 156. In addition, the safety liner180 includes a closed end cap 194. The closed end cap 194 includes acentral cone extension 196, and a shoulder area 198 extending about thecentral cone extension 196 and between the central zone extension 196and the closed end cap periphery 200. The closed end cap periphery 200generally refers to the annular edge region at the periphery of theclosed end cap 194.

The collar 182 includes an arm 201, a collar extension 202, a safetyseal member 204 extending from collar extension 202, and a radial sealmember 206 extending from the collar extension 202. A gasket or o-ring208 can be provided to seal the collar 182 to the downstream end cap 169of the housing 152. The collar 182 can be snap fit onto the housing end169. The snap fit assembly is generally shown in FIGS. 14 and 16.

Now referring to FIGS. 17-19, placement of the safety filter element 156on the support structure 192 is shown. The safety filter element 156includes a safety seal member 212, a safety end cap seal member 214, anda safety media structure 216. The safety media structure 216 can beprovided similar to the safety media structure 68. The safety mediastructure 216 can be provided having a layer of filtration media 218 anda layer of support structure 220. The layer of filtration media 218 can,if desired, be pleated media.

The safety seal member 212 includes a lower seal member 222 and an upperseal member 224. The safety seal member 212 engages the safety sealmember 204 to provide a seal so that the lower seal member 222 and theupper seal member 224 provide compressive force on the safety sealmember 204. The safety seal member 204 can be referred to as the housingsafety seal member because it is part of the housing. The safety sealmember 212 can be referred as a pinch radial seal because the lower sealmember 220 and the upper seal member 224 compress the safety seal member204. The safety seal member 212 can be made of polyurethane material.

The safety end cap seal member 214 includes a first extension arm 221that engages the closed end cap 194 at a base 226 of the central coneextension 196. The base 226 can be provided as part of the shoulder 198.The base 226 helps seal, center, support, and guide the safety filterelement 156 on the support structure, and avoid risk of collapsing. Thesafety end cap seal 214 includes a second extension arm 223 that extendsaxially along a length of the safety media structure 216. The secondextension arm 223 extends beyond the first extension arm 221 axiallytoward the apex 228 of the central cone extension 196. The safety endcap seal member 214 can be provided as a polyurethane material. Inaddition, the structure of the safety end cap seal member 214 canprovide a desirable guide for the safety media structure 216 during themolding process.

Now referring to FIGS. 20-24, insertion of the main filter element 154into the housing interior 230 is shown. The main filter element 154includes a first open end cap 239, a second closed end cap 242, and amain filtration media 244 extending from the first open end cap 239 tothe second closed end cap 242. The first open end cap 239 includes aradial seal member 240 and an axial seal member 241. The radial sealmember 240 includes a radial seal surface 246 that engages the radialseal member 206 to create an annular, radial seal. The radial sealmember 240 can be characterized as an outwardly directed radial sealbecause the direction of the seal is outward and toward the radial sealmember 206. The radial seal member 206 can be referred to as the housingradial seal member 206, and the radial seal member 240 can be referredto as the main filter element radial seal member 240. The axially sealmember 241 is provided extending axially from the first open end cap239. The axially seal member 241 can be characterized as amolded-in-place lip type axially seal 243. That is, the lip type axiallyseal can be provided so that it flexes when the main filter element isintroduced into the housing. This allows the main filter element toabsorb and tolerate the length of the main filter element while avoidingfriction that can cause where between the main filter element and theservice cover. The axially seal member 241 can be provided extendingaxially from the first open end cap 239 between the radial seal member240 and the outer, peripheral 243 of the first open end cap 239.Furthermore, the main filtration media 240 can be potted within thefirst end cap 239 and within the second closed end cap 242. The firstend cap 239 and the second end cap 242 can be made from polyurethanematerial.

The end cap 242 can be characterized as a closed end cap 250. The endcap 242 includes an annular rim area 252, a central bump 254, and arecess 256 between the annular rim area 252 and the central bump 254.The annular rim area 252 and the central bump 254 can be consideredextending axially away from the first end 165. Similarly, the recess 256can be characterized as an area extending axially toward the first end165. In general, the annular rim area 252 contains the filtration mediaand extends cylindrically or conically. The central bump 254 isconstructed to receive the central cone extension 196 when the mainfilter element 154 is fully inserted within the housing interior 230.The recess 256 is constructed to engage the first extension arm 221 andprovide contact between the recess 256 and the first extension arm 221.This contact that can extend annularly or circumferentially can helphold the safety filter element 156 in place.

The annular rim area 252 includes an annular rim periphery 258 and caninclude a series of exterior slots 260. The service cover 174 can beconstructed to engage the slots 260 via bumps 280 on the service cover174 to help hold the main filter element 154 in place to avoid rotationand vibration that might cause it to wear out.

The service cover 174 can be provided having an inner surface 282 thatgenerally conforms to the closed end cap 250. In general, the innersurface 282 can include a projection 284 that fits within the recess256, and can include a reverse cone 286 that receives the central bump254. Furthermore, the inner surface 282 can include an annular rim 288that surrounds the main filter element 154. The service cover 174 can bemade of a plastic material and can be designed to guide, support, andpush the safety element in place and participate to maintain the sealbetween the safety filter element 156 and the safety liner 180.

We claim:
 1. An air cleaner assembly comprising: (a) an air cleanerhousing comprising a main housing having: a first end with an axial airflow outlet; and, a second, open, end; the main housing including: (i) ahousing main filter element sealing surface; (ii) a housing safetyfilter element sealing surface; and, (iii) a liner secured to, andextending from, the main housing first end in extension toward thesecond open end of the main housing; the liner having an open supportstructure and a remote end from the housing first end; the linerincluding a closed end cap having a central cone extension projectingaway from the axial air flow outlet; (b) a safety filter elementseparate from, and removably positioned over, the liner; (i) the safetyfilter element comprising media extending between first and second ends;(ii) a seal member positioned on the safety filter element and orientedto form a radially directed seal with the housing safety filter elementsealing surface; and, iii) an end piece positioned on the second end ofthe safety filter and oriented with a portion thereof surrounding aportion of the liner remote end; (c) a main filter element removablypositioned, separate from the safety filter element, in the air cleanerhousing: over the safety filter element; and, over the liner; the mainfilter element comprising media extending between first and second ends;(i) the first end of the media of the main air filter element having amain filter first end cap thereon with an air flow exit aperturetherethrough; (ii) a radially directed seal on the main filter first endcap releasably sealed to the housing main filter element sealingsurface; and, (iii) a second, closed, main filter end piece positionedadjacent the second end of the media of the main filter element; thesecond, closed, main filter end piece having a portion projecting: to alocation surrounding a portion of the liner remote end; and, also to alocation positioned radially between a portion of the liner remote endand an outer perimeter portion of the end piece on the second end of thesafety filter; and, (d) an access cover removably positioned over theopen end of the main housing open end.
 2. An air cleaner assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein: (a) the seal on the first end piece of themain filter element is a radially inwardly directed seal member.
 3. Anair cleaner assembly according to claim 1 wherein: (a) the seal on thesafety filter element is a radially outwardly directed seal member. 4.An air cleaner assembly according to claim 1 wherein: (a) the media ofthe safety filter element is pleated.
 5. An air cleaner assemblyaccording to claim 1 wherein: (a) the media of the main filter elementis conical.
 6. An air cleaner assembly according to claim 1 wherein: (a)the removable service cover positioned over the main housing open endincludes a projection thereon extending to a location surrounded by aportion of the media of the main filter element and also to a locationsurrounding a portion of the liner remote end.
 7. An air cleanerassembly according to claim 6 wherein: (a) the end piece positioned onthe second end of the safety filter element includes a portion extendingradially inwardly, from the media of the safety element, to a locationsurrounding an aperture; and, (b) a portion of the liner remote endprojects through the aperture in the radially inwardly directed portionof the end piece on the second end of the safety filter element.
 8. Anair cleaner assembly according to claim 6 wherein: (a) the second,closed, main filter end piece includes: a portion surrounding thecentral cone extension on the liner; a portion receiving the centralcone extension on the liner projecting therein; and, a portionpositioned axially aligned with a portion of the remote end of the linerthat surrounds the central cone extension.
 9. An air cleaner assemblyaccording to claim 8 wherein: (a) the liner is snap fit to a remainderof the housing.